shmenguin wrote:you only need 1 camera during live play. i don't see why anyone would really want additional angles.

Maybe a higher angle, so you can see nearly the whole ice and be better able to see things develop. Or an endzone camera behind the goalie or over the redline at center ice during a power player. NBC's star camera is pretty cool when it follows a specific player around.

Those are things some broadcasters do but you don't really get a choice which one you'd like to see.

shmenguin wrote:you only need 1 camera during live play. i don't see why anyone would really want additional angles.

Maybe a higher angle, so you can see nearly the whole ice and be better able to see things develop. Or an endzone camera behind the goalie or over the redline at center ice during a power player. NBC's star camera is pretty cool when it follows a specific player around.

Those are things some broadcasters do but you don't really get a choice which one you'd like to see.

yeah - the higher angle is a big plus. i've mentioned this a bunch of times, but HDNet used to broadcast hockey games once a week or so. from a technical standpoint, i've never seen anything even close to that quality. high camera, and perfect mic placement.

shmenguin wrote:you only need 1 camera during live play. i don't see why anyone would really want additional angles.

Maybe a higher angle, so you can see nearly the whole ice and be better able to see things develop. Or an endzone camera behind the goalie or over the redline at center ice during a power player. NBC's star camera is pretty cool when it follows a specific player around.

Those are things some broadcasters do but you don't really get a choice which one you'd like to see.

yeah - the higher angle is a big plus. i've mentioned this a bunch of times, but HDNet used to broadcast hockey games once a week or so. from a technical standpoint, i've never seen anything even close to that quality. high camera, and perfect mic placement.

The mellon had nice high cameras that were above section D and below the old luxury boxes. Unfortunately, the new cameras are quite lower than that (which isn't nearly as much of a problem as the zooming in and out they do from this level).

And agreed that there is no need for additional angles during live play, though I'm one of the few I think that likes the behind the net view for a power play. But thats mostly because it shows the whole zone. I could certainly do without it if the standard side view was wider.

I'd love it if they just went to a 1 high camera system for live play. No changing of zoom. And the camera really only ever needs to be in 3 stationary positions (each of the 3 zones of play). Isn't the ultimate goal, after all, to make you feel like you're there at the game? Thats how I'd watch the game live.

Then, when you need to replay something, zoom and use all of the angles you want to catch the little nuances in slow motion.

Helmet Cam! You could watch Ovi consciously look at and line up victims from all the way across the ice! Or see a player focus in a pass coming in for a one timer. Not to good in game, but imagine the replays!

Last edited by OutofFoil on Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

1) producers are hired that don't know hockey2) hockey broadcasts aren't their endgame - since it's relatively small potatoes. which brings us to...3) a single, stationary camera is superior, but it doesn't look that impressive in your next job interview

shmenguin wrote:you only need 1 camera during live play. i don't see why anyone would really want additional angles.

Because this is the MTV generation. Attention spans like gnats.

Watch a TV program, or most movies made today.

Almost entirely comprised of short-duration shots. Constantly switching those short-duration shots. Never hold the camera on a still shot for longer than 5 seconds.

Then watch an old movie or TV program. Almost entirely comprised of set, still, long-duration shots. Only occasionally switching to different angles, when necessary to tell the story (such as a closeup on a "clue" on the floor, or a detail on that mess of papers on the desk).

It's happened to sports as well. I mean, do you think it's a waste to get goalie-jockstrap cam? How about nosehair cam for the coach on the bench? What about closeups of some fat drunk making a fool of himself in the stands because another grown man put a small disc into a net? Perhaps a shot of the trainer taping some guys stick?

Dozens and dozens of these shots need to be crammed into every 3:00 to 6:00 minute stretches of the game between commercial breaks. So you can imagine why every now and then, they might miss some of that tangential stuff like a faceoff, a scored goal, a key penalty call.

shmenguin wrote:you only need 1 camera during live play. i don't see why anyone would really want additional angles.

Because this is the MTV generation. Attention spans like gnats.

Watch a TV program, or most movies made today.

Almost entirely comprised of short-duration shots. Constantly switching those short-duration shots. Never hold the camera on a still shot for longer than 5 seconds.

Then watch an old movie or TV program. Almost entirely comprised of set, still, long-duration shots. Only occasionally switching to different angles, when necessary to tell the story (such as a closeup on a "clue" on the floor, or a detail on that mess of papers on the desk).

It's happened to sports as well. I mean, do you think it's a waste to get goalie-jockstrap cam? How about nosehair cam for the coach on the bench? What about closeups of some fat drunk making a fool of himself in the stands because another grown man put a small disc into a net? Perhaps a shot of the trainer taping some guys stick?

Dozens and dozens of these shots need to be crammed into every 3:00 to 6:00 minute stretches of the game between commercial breaks. So you can imagine why every now and then, they might miss some of that tangential stuff like a faceoff, a scored goal, a key penalty call.

Par for teh course.

I can't watch a lot of new action films because of that. The new Sherlock Holmes movie moved so fast I couldn't stand it.

Noise wrote:I can't watch a lot of new action films because of that. The new Sherlock Holmes movie moved so fast I couldn't stand it.

It isn't just that I cannot stand it, but it fkn confuses me.

Is that what the director is going for? To confuse his audience?

I don't want you to take it slow like I'm a 3rd grader whom you need to verbally explain every bit as well as show me pictures.

But for goodness' sake, stop with the pointless "shaky cam", incessant angle switching, needless closeups, etc. It doesn't excite, thrill, or impress me. It confuses me. Like Hulk, it makes me want to SMASH the camera over their head.

I don't want to even get started on this ridiculous phenomenon of "ANNNNNND WE'RE WALKING! WE'RE TALKING!! WE ARE SO IMPORTANT WE CANNOT HAVE THIS DISCUSSION STANDING AND FACING EACH OTHER LIKE TWO ADULTS! LET'S CARRY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AS WE WALK TO THE NEXT STILTED AND JITTERY SCENE IN 3, 2, 1..."

I guess I got my hopes up a little too much about the new director of Root broadcasts. The live feed was as bad as it has been the last couple of years.-Constant zooming in and zooming out, which causes the camera to have to lash around frantically to try to find the puck. I actually start to get motion sick from all of the zooming in out in out.-Attempting to get close up shots of certain plays while missing key things going on in other areas of the ice.-Corner boards cam on the Datsyuk style toe drag that was completely missed when it was live.

Please just give us a nice high camera that slowly moves between the 3 zones as play does with little to no zooming. Please. Save all of the fancy close ups for replays.

beLIEve wrote:I guess I got my hopes up a little too much about the new director of Root broadcasts. The live feed was as bad as it has been the last couple of years.-Constant zooming in and zooming out, which causes the camera to have to lash around frantically to try to find the puck. I actually start to get motion sick from all of the zooming in out in out.-Attempting to get close up shots of certain plays while missing key things going on in other areas of the ice.-Corner boards cam on the Datsyuk style toe drag that was completely missed when it was live.

Please just give us a nice high camera that slowly moves between the 3 zones as play does with little to no zooming. Please. Save all of the fancy close ups for replays.

A director can only do so much... you've got to have the supporting cast to make a great broadcast. That's why, in my opinion, CBC is the gold standard in hockey broadcasting. Their camera men are terrific, their analysts/personalities are knowledgable, and their announcers & colour guys - for the most part - are very good.

there has to be one guy ultimately responsible for when they switch camera angles. if it's the same guy as last year, the broadcast is going to still suck, even if steven speilberg is handling everything else.

this is literally the only thing that matters to me regarding the broadcast - and they'll probably still blow it

shmenguin wrote:there has to be one guy ultimately responsible for when they switch camera angles. if it's the same guy as last year, the broadcast is going to still suck, even if steven speilberg is handling everything else.

this is literally the only thing that matters to me regarding the broadcast - and they'll probably still blow it

The thing I can't get over watching feeds on Center Ice and Gamecenter Live is how many regular broadcast crews (camera operators) still have trouble following the puck. Pretty sure losing track of it once is enough to get you canned from the HNIC crew.

I understand that hockey is a fast-paced game, but following the play is a pretty critical part of broadcasting. (I do find the ROOT Pit crew does a good enough job in this area, it's just some... or a lot... of other things that bring them down.)

The thing is, they don't need to lose the puck if they just keep the zoom at a level where you can see the entire zone that the puck is in. Its their love of zoom that has them thrashing the camera around in an attempt to find the puck.